15-year old Indian athlete dies in apparent suicide pact

Four young athletes ate the fruit of the 'suicide tree' in an apparent suicide pact, which their families allege was due to physical and mental abuse by other trainees

Indian oarsmen and women prepare to take part in the Nehru Boat Races in Alleppy, Kerala (STRDEL/AFP/Getty Images)

Four young female athletes have taken part in an apparent suicide pact at a sports training centre in Kerala, India.

One of the group, a 15-year old girl named Aparna, has died, and the three others are in hospital, after they all attempted suicide by eating poisonous fruit in an apparent suicide pact on Wednesday.

It has been alleged by the girls' families that they group were harassed and "physically and mentally tortured" by older trainees and coaches at the Sports Authority of India (SAI) centre in Kozhikode, Kerala, the Times of India reported.

Police said the group are believed to have eaten the fruit on Wednesday afternoon in their living quarters at the SAI centre, where promising young athletes are trained to represent India in sporting events.

The fruit came from the othalanga tree, which grows wild across Kerala. It is commonly known as the 'suicide tree', due to the potent poison it produces.

The girls were rushed to hospital that evening after they were found fainted in their accommodation, and then transferred to Alapuzha Medical College, where the 15-year old died early on Thursday morning. Doctors are fighting to save the lives of the other three.

The athletes' families alleged the girls were being harassed by older trainees and coaches.

One relative claimed that Aparna was hit with an oar two days before her suicide, causing injuries that left her unable to sit or stand.

However, the warden of the building where the group stayed denied that bullying took place, saying she only knew about the case when the girls were found passed out in their quarters.

A 15-year old girl named Aparna died, and the three others are currently in hospital (SAJJAD HUSSAIN/AFP/Getty Images)

The Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports has begun an investigation, and SAI Director General Injeti Srinivas went to the Kerala centre to report on the case.

Speaking to reporters in Dehli about the allegations of abuse, Srinivas said: "I can assure that if anything is found wanting or if anybody is at fault, the strictest of action will be taken."

In a statement, Minister of Youth Affairs and Sports Sarbananda Sonowal said: "I am deeply aggrieved by the incident that has happened in Kerala. It is a big loss to the country in general and Sports Authority of India and sports fraternity in particular. I convey my condolences to the bereaved family."

Srinivas said that there was no known antidote for the poison that the girls consumed, but added that the best possible medical care is being provided to them.

Police registered a case of "unnatural death" for the deceased girl.